Gerardus Mooyman

Gerardus Mooyman

Gerardus Mooyman
Born 23 September 1923(1923-09-23)
Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Died 21 June 1987(1987-06-21) (aged 63)
Anloo, Netherlands
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Waffen-SS
Years of service 1941–1945
Rank Untersturmführer
Unit 14./SS-Freiwilligen-Legion "Nederland"
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Gerardus Leonardus Mooyman (23 September 1923 – 21 June 1987) was a Dutch volunteer in the Waffen-SS.

Biography

Gerardus Mooyman was born in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. He grew up in a very pro-German household. His father was a small time retailer whose business suffered greatly during the great depression, resulting in his joining of the NSB in hope of a better future. Mooyman spent his youth hearing stories about the triumphs of Hitler and Nazi Germany and admiring the German victories across Europe.

His father wanted Mooyman to work in the family business but he preferred a military career, so in 1941 he volunteered to serve in the 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Netherlands, and was sent to the eastern front as an anti tank gun commander. In the battle at Lake Ladoga he destroyed 13 tanks, for this action he was the first non-German to be awarded the Knight's Cross. By the end of his service on the front he was credited with destroying 23 Soviet tanks.

As the first non-German to be awarded the Knight's Cross, Nazi propaganda widely published his story in newspapers and magazines. He was congratulated personally by Himmler and had to attend dozens of receptions, parties and parades. He was illustrated as an example to the Dutch youth.

By the end of the war Mooyman rose to the rank of SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant). He was arrested at Bodegraven in March 1946, put on trial in 1947 and charged with active military collaboration for his service in the Waffen-SS. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Mooyman became disillusioned with Nazism when he learned about the holocaust and other war crimes perpetrated by Nazi Germany.

Mooyman was released after 3 years in prison, after which he moved to Hoogkerk where he became the owner of a paper-hanging business and the secretary of local football club. He was married and had one daughter.

Gerardus Mooyman died in a car accident in 1987.

Decorations

References

Citations
  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 315.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links